Once Highly Touted, Now Forgotten

[UK-Chulo]

In my time as an adult Greg Oden is the one that will always stand out to me. I can’t tell you how many people told me I was crazy for saying he’s overrated and won’t pan out. I’ll never forget the popular response - “he shoots free throws with either hand!!” So what?

Even without injuries I don’t think he would have amounted to much. He didn’t have the drive and the killer and you could easily see that. He thrived in college because of his size and talent. But I feel it was easy to see it wouldn’t translate to the NBA. I would have never drafted him had I been a GM. Not even with the number 30 pick.

Going to disagree here. I watched quite a few games of Oden in the league. When he was somewhat healthy he had a tremendous impact on the game. He was long, had range defensively, tried to dunk everything, and was a great rebounder.

 

[Catclaw1]

Sebastian Telfair

Came here to post just that

 

[taydaddy]

Anthony Bennett

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

BJ a Bust? He’s a 2nd round pick with a Trevor Ariza floor. Not everyone is a superstar he’ll make plenty of money in the league.

Trevor Ariza Ceiling maybe, I’ll be surprised if he contributes as much as Ariza did for as long as he has.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

You could arguably include Randolph Morris in this category. McDonald’s All-American who some services had as a top 10 player nationally, and was certainly hyped up as a program changing player when he committed to us. He did score a fair bit in his sophomore and junior seasons, but often seemed to have a poor motor and never really elevated the team to anything worth noting. Then he bolted to the NBA where he only lasted for 4 seasons as a benchwarmer averaging just under 2 PPG.

Morris was a pretty good college player, I agree that he didn’t really elevate the team in all areas but he did what he did well, score and rebound. He was a top of the line Center/PF in the NCAA’s during his time. If that Michigan State game was a win his time would be remembered way more fondly for breaking the final four drought.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Going to disagree here. I watched quite a few games of Oden in the league. When he was somewhat healthy he had a tremendous impact on the game. He was long, had range defensively, tried to dunk everything, and was a great rebounder.

Oden was a Man Child for sure, he would have been really solid for many years at worst.

 

[Catman100]

Really hoping Sharpe ends up on this list.

 

[DelkBowl]

IU basketball.

 

[TFCat11]

Zion Williamson (not lack of talent) pending.

Shaedon Sharpe (fake it, until you make it) pending.

 

[numberonedad]

A lot of people on here really don’t understand what a “ bust “ is.

 

[HurleyToHill]

Bill Walker. Hungtinton Prep, North College Hill. Think he played at Rose Hill with Mayo?

Every HS game I saw him, he was better than Mayo.

 

[CrimsonCats_rivals]

Morris was a pretty good college player, I agree that he didn’t really elevate the team in all areas but he did what he did well, score and rebound. He was a top of the line Center/PF in the NCAA’s during his time. If that Michigan State game was a win his time would be remembered way more fondly for breaking the final four drought.

To be completely honest, I had a brain cramp and forgot that his freshman year was with that team and associated him a lot more with the two disappointing ones that followed. You’re probably right that he’d be remembered more kindly had we won that game.

 

[christophero]

Not sure if he was a bust, but TJ Leaf was a one and done for UCLA. He did sign a 3 year deal with the Pacers but is now out of the league. He was really good at UCLA. He played in 2017.

 

[Rick Honcho]

Bill Walker. Hungtinton Prep, North College Hill. Think he played at Rose Hill with Mayo?

Every HS game I saw him, he was better than Mayo.

Injured his knee while at K-State and then played 2nd fiddle when Michael Beasley arrived. Had a cup of coffee in the nba.

 

[Whatsup]

Except that he was never ever “highly touted” by anyone other than some UK message board posters who got fooled by his mixtape.

I thought that was John Wayne’s son.

 

[Whatsup]

He once ate the Entire McDonald’s menu in one sitting. That’s an accomplishment.

Well that’s something to be proud of.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

A lot of people on here really don’t understand what a “ bust “ is.

I think I have a pretty good idea

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I think I have a pretty good idea

Man, those are itty bitty titties.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Man, those are itty bitty titties.

Small breasted women need love too. You guys send them my way

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Small breasted women need love too. You guys send them my way

I’m more of an *** and leg man myself anyway. Just saying that those are tiny, especially for a Hooters girl.

 

[IUfanBorden]

Lenny Cooke

Sad story, there.....

 

[IUfanBorden]

Rodrick Rhodes - Kentucky
Skal Labissiere - Kentucky
Dan Gadzuric - UCLA
Randy Livingston - LSU
Jalani McCoy - UCLA
Jelani Gardner - Cal
Ronnie Fields - no college
Ed O'Bannon - UCLA
Aaron Miles - Kansas
Shabazz Muhammed - UCLA
Tremaine Fowlkes - Cal
MKG - UK
Darius Miles - St. John's
Erick Barkley - St. John's
O.J. Mayo - Southern Cal
Xavier Henry - Kansas
Lenny Cooke - no college
Korleone Young - no college
Jerod Ward - Michigan
Josh Selby - Kansas
Sebastian Telfair - no college
Malik Newman - Miss State/Kansas
Cheick Diallo - Kansas
Felipe Lopez - St. John's
Darius Rice - Miami
Joe Forte - UNC
Stromile Swift - LSU
C.J. Leslie - NC State
Jereme Richmond - Illinois
Lance Stephenson - Cincy
Scotty Hopson - Tennessee
Samardo Samuels - Louisville

Rhodes, man......What happened with that dude?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Rhodes, man......What happened with that dude?

Rick Pitino

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Rhodes, man......What happened with that dude?

Rick Pitino

I think Rodrick Rhodes happened to Rodrick Rhodes. He didn't have the desire to become a better basketball player.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I think Rodrick Rhodes happened to Rodrick Rhodes. He didn't have the desire to become a better basketball player.

I don’t know about all that. I do know Pitino treated him like dog ****. He absolutely lit into him for stealing the spotlight from Mash during his freshman season. He was never the same after that.

 

[IUfanBorden]

I don’t know about all that. I do know Pitino treated him like dog ****. He absolutely lit into him for stealing the spotlight from Mash during his freshman season. He was never the same after that.

He played more as a soph.....average increased from 9ppg, to 14ppg. Started 29 games... Not sure this is on Ricky...

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I don’t know about all that. I do know Pitino treated him like dog ****. He absolutely lit into him for stealing the spotlight from Mash during his freshman season. He was never the same after that.

Rick gave the dude an extremely long leash. Rhodes shot 0-9 and 2-10 against Marquette and UNC. Pitino said Rhodes didn't really work to get better unless he was specifically told. Where did the "stealing Mashburn's" thunder thing originate? Did Rhodes say this?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

He played more as a soph.....average increased from 9ppg, to 14ppg. Started 29 games... Not sure this is on Ricky...

He should’ve been playing more as a freshman. He played great at the beginning of the season. Then he was in Rick’s doghouse.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Rick gave the dude an extremely long leash. Rhodes shot 0-9 and 2-10 against Marquette and UNC. Pitino said Rhodes didn't really work to get better unless he was specifically told. Where did the "stealing Mashburn's" thunder thing originate? Did Rhodes say this?

I know, I watched those games. This was his freshman year, against Georgia Tech IIRC. He benched Rhodes at one point during that game and lit into him. He told Rhodes that this was Mashburn’s show. This has been well documented. He was never the same after that.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I know, I watched those games. This was his freshman year, against Georgia Tech IIRC. He benched Rhodes at one point during that game and lit into him. He told Rhodes that this was Mashburn’s show. This has been well documented. He was never the same after that.

I can buy that, but I'm having trouble understanding why that would put Rhodes into some type of PTSD after Mashburn left. Pitino had massive success with Mashburn, McCarty, Mercer, Delk, Anderson, Walker, Epps, Sheppard, Ford, etc., but Rhodes wasn't built for the big time. He was an extremely talented kid, but we see that even after an extra year of redshirting to develop his game at USC, he was still the same player at USC in his fifth college season. He just wasn't interested in developing his game at the level that is needed to become an extraordinary talent.

 

[Whatsup]

I know, I watched those games. This was his freshman year, against Georgia Tech IIRC. He benched Rhodes at one point during that game and lit into him. He told Rhodes that this was Mashburn’s show. This has been well documented. He was never the same after that.

I see we both love butts.

 

[rabbitTown]

All over-hyped kids (last 20ish years)

Starting five:
Josh Selby
Malik Hairston
Shabazz Muhammad
Skal Labissiere
Greg Oden

Off the bench:
Cliff Alexander
Harry Giles
Jahlil Okafor
Michael Beasley
Kyle Singler
Jared Sullinger
Terrence Jones
Isaiah Austin
Emmanuel Mudiay
Ben Simmons
Josh Jackson
Michael Porter, Jr.
Bol Bol

 

[Paulyv94]

To be fair, Harry Giles looked awesome before he had surgery. That was really when it became clear Duke was beating us on the trail.

Giles also had his surgery(ies) done at Duke Medical, so not sure that's a fair recruiting advantage.

 

[revcort]

Yeah, the list is pretty long. What it proves mostly to me is that raw, physical talent and athleticism is no guarantee of success. It also proves that those who work for these recruiting services, Rivals, 247, ESPN, and etc are often enamored with measurables and not skill and proven ability. It may also show that the pro game is a much different game than college.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Yeah, the list is pretty long. What it proves mostly to me is that raw, physical talent and athleticism is no guarantee of success. It also proves that those who work for these recruiting services, Rivals, 247, ESPN, and etc are often enamored with measurables and not skill and proven ability. It may also show that the pro game is a much different game than college.

I think it shows that it’s easy to predict if someone is top 5% in the world. In HS that type of talent is going to shine, especially against mostly kids in the top 80%. But once you move to Division 1 you’re in the top 1% playing against the other top 1%, trying to be in the NBA which is the top .1%, and that’s where things become extremely difficult. It’s easy to pick out the smartest kid in HS, the valedictorian with the perfect SAT score, it’s much harder to pick the smartest kid at Harvard, who is in class with 1,000 other valedictorians with perfect SAT scores.

 

[Whatsup]

Love me some big butts and big Oscar.

 

[Blueaz]

Josh Jackson


Anyone the Kings draft... hoping Fox gets outa there

 

[WildcatFan1982]

Scottie Reynolds

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

If something doesn't change, Brandon Boston..

Sam Bowie
Nerlins Noel
Greg Oden
Tyler Hansbrough
Adam Morrison

There is a pretty long list if you really dig into it.

Greg Oden and was put out by injuries, so not really a bust. Same with Bowie...tho he did change how players were drafted in the NBA where its by talent not need now.

Nerlins is still In the nba, while a role player, he's never dropped to the g league.

Anyway, Duke has had several busts in the nba. Remember Jabari Parker?
So has Kansas

 

[Diggers_Matching_Highlighter_rivals62132]

Michael Avery
Dakotah Euton
KC Ross Miller
GJ Vilarino